A challenge is issued as the Missouri House begins work on the 2002 session. House Speaker Jim Kreider of Nixa and Republican Leader Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods met with reporters after the opening day. Hanaway tells Kreider Republicans have three priorities: education reform that includes a classroom trust fund, the Secretary of State’s election reform bill, and property tax reform. Kreider hesitated when she asked whether Democrats will let the issues come to the floor for debate. He insists educationis his number one priority, with everything else taking a back seat.